We have a bright and sunny day up here at the lodge. Traffic is good around here and another busy weekend is winding down. This leaves us with just two more weekends left on the season. Fall has come and gone pretty quickly this year. Walt and Matt are keeping the kitchen ticking and Pauline is working the office today. Jess went on a day run to the bluffs down alum cave trail. Alison and myself are off the afternoon and relaxing from the weekend and trying to keep up with NFL as best possible from up here today. Alan and the llamas made a trip up Trillium Gap Trail this morning and either he forgot to change his clock last night or he was really speeding up the trail today as he arrived earlier than usual. Bonnie brings the llamas up again tomorrow as well as trips for the boys on Thursday and Friday of this week so watch out for them on trillium gap this week. Alan brought to our attention, what we crew thought had maybe been some sort of cloud inversion, was actually a group of forest fires and we were just seeing the cloud shelf of smoke. Now our sunny day has somewhat turned smokey. The smoke has reached the top of the mountain. The temps are 48 currently with clouds/smoke among us.Yesterdays High was 51 and low was 30. If you are coming up this week remember to pack layers. The night time hours are getting pretty chilly and frost is common this week in the mornings. And as always be safe coming up! See you at the top!-Tate

Tammy (Tx)

11/6/2016 08:34:42 pm

Just a few more weeks for you guys, but I bet you're ready for a much needed winter break. Smoke, huh? When we were visiting week before last there was a forest fire you could see from the road leading up to Clingman's Dome. I don't know my directions very well in the park, but it seemed to be over near one end of Fontana Lake or near Deep Creek. Do you all know where the fires are? Just wondering. Hate to see them in the Smokies.

As I was driving down I-75 two weeks ago coming to the Park for my visit to the Lodge I saw two or three forest fires near the Interstate with lots of smoke over the road, etc. It's extremely dry here in central KY and makes me wonder about how the Lodge might be prepared for a fire near there. I would think that there are contingency plans for just such a possibility; I happened to notice when I arrived on the 26th their equipment building and some fire hoses hanging on the wall there, so, I assume that there are plans just in case of such an occurrence which I hope does not happen. It seems that around the Lodge the grounds are all relatively fresh and moist. yet it is good if a plan is at the ready, etc. Just being curious about this. Let it rain..............................g'day

Bill

11/7/2016 09:37:48 am

Our group is coming up this Friday. Is there ice or water on the trails, especially Alum Cave?

Elaine

11/7/2016 01:10:34 pm

Too dry for water; too warm for ice. Sadly a drought situation on the surrounding areas. Little River is littler than ever. Your hike will be fine.

Bill

11/8/2016 09:17:41 am

Great! Thanks!

Lori

11/7/2016 09:45:35 am

Supposedly, the smoke is from the Nantahala forest fires. Although, there are plenty of other fires some distance from us that could be contributing to the air quality. I know, G-Burg has a burn ban in effect...not even charcoal grills are allowed and the park has a burn ban, also. I was hoping for that rain this past Thursday, but that kind of fizzled out. Been a real dry one this year, our streams are so dry you can walk across them!

Lori

11/7/2016 11:37:50 am

Looking out my back windows it looks like someone has taken the "erase" tool from Photoshop and erased Mt. Leconte from my view!

Eric

11/8/2016 08:56:47 pm

I'm heading up there Friday in honor of veterans day! How is the forest fires smoke affecting the views!

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LeConte Lodge

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